Burial-casket lid



1f (Home C. R. HBRRIGK.

BURIAL CASKBTVLID.

Patented sept. so', 1890.

vill!! WIJVESSES .21 Zorn ey Y UNITED STATES I PATENT OEEICE. f

CHARLES R. HERRICK, OF EUREKA, MICHIGAN.'

BURIAL-GASKET Lio.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 487,492, dated September 30, 1890.

Application filed February 5, 1890. Serial No. 339,266. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. HERRICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Eureka, in the county of Montcalm and State of Michigamhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Burial-Casket Lids, of which the following is a specication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, in whichm Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a burial-casket provided with myimproved sectional lid, the lid being open; Fig. 2, a transverse sectional view of the casket, showing the lid closed; Fig. 3, a plan view showing the lid closed; Figs. 4, 5, and 6, detail views of the Vimproved separable hinge connecting the center panel to the side panel.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A designates the shell or body of the casket, which may be of the usual or any improved construction. The lid is composed of three longitudinal sections or panels, the two outer panels B B being each about one-half the width of the central panel and hinged at their longitudinal edges to the upper edges of the cove of the casket. The central panel is double the width of one of the side panels, and is detachably hinged at its longitudinal edges to the adjacent edges of the side panels. One form of separable hinge for detachably hinging the central -panel to the side panels is shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. In these iigures, a a designate the leaves of the hinge connected by the usual pintle. On the back of one of the leaves is secured a spring-actuated sliding plate b, provided with an operating thumb-piece o', which extends up through and works in a slot in the leaf. The plate b is provided with two or more extensions b, which normally engages ears c c, formed on the leaf of the hinge and adapted to partly embrace the pintle. These extensions, as will be seen, normally prevent the pintle (which is carried bythe other leaf of the hinge) from becoming detached from the curved ears c c.

When it is desired to separate the sections of the hinge, it is simplynecessary to slide back,

by means of the thumb-piece, the sp ring-actuated plate, when the pintle may be readily slipped out of the open ears c c. By thus employing three panels and having the central one much wider than the side panels, I obtain this important advantage: This central panel, when the lid is open, hangs down on the side of the casket, and, being wide, affords ample space for decorating purposes and for the reception of mottoes, emblems, names, &c. The

Vside panels when thrown back, rest upon the thumb-screws of the casket and are thereby supported in a horizontal position, in which position they may be employed to support flowers, &c.

The panels may'extend the full length of the casket or only a portion of its length, as shown in the drawings, and it is evident that they will be trimmed and ornamented in any suitable manner.

The essential feature of this invention consists in detachably hinging both longitudinal edges of the central panel to the adjacent side panels, and from this manner of connecting the panels several important advantages follow. The principal advantage gained is that the central panel (which is provided with an emblem or name or some term of endearment) is thereby made` reversible-that is to say, it may be turned down on either side of the casket, as the exigencies of the case may require. This enables the central emblempanel to be always placed so that it Will face the mourners and congregation without being compelled to turn the casket around.

Another advantage is that it may be readily removed entirely, if so desired, while the mourners and friends are viewing the remains of the deceased.

A further essential advantage is that the central panel may be detached and turned end for end, in order that any name or emblem upon it may always be made to read o r appear properly, as is evident.

I wish it understood that I do not confine myself to the exact construction of hinge IOO /WhatI claim, and desire to secure by Letters and a spring-actuated plate upon one of the Patent, isleaves and provided with projections adapted 1. The combination, with a burial-casket, to normally retain the pintle in the said emof a lid constructed of three longitudinal panbracing-ears, substantially as described. 15

5 els, the central panel being detachably hinged In testimony whereof I affix my signature in A tg the adjacent edges of the side panels, and presence of two Witnesses. t e latter bein@ hinged to the sides of the Casket, as Set frth D CHARLIE@ R. IIERRIOK.

2. The combination of the two leaves of a Witnesses:

Io hinge, a pintle carried byone leaf and partly E. J. SCHOOLCRAFT,

embraced by ears formed on the other leaf, R. O. KINNEY. 

